4 years ago I had two diverticulum rupture and consequently had 12 inches of my Sigmoid Colon removed. On top of that while I was in the recovering from that surgery I had two ulcers rupture and almost bled out.

Once home I was on antibiotics and antacids for at least a year. All seemed to be fine until January of this year when I noticed that all dairy products were causing me problems. I was fine for a few months when I noticed that I would feel bad after eating a hamburger or pasta. This is when I thought I was suffering from Gluten Intolerance.

What about a Candida overgrowth. I’ve been to my GI doctor 4 times in the past year with the same complaint and each time she says “It’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” I don’t believe in IBS. What would you recommend for Candida overgrowth? Thanks in advance for any help.

Rusty

Hi Rusty,

Wow, you sure have been through the wringer. Sorry you’ve been through such an ordeal. Unfortunately, this is a common scenario for many people in our society.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a real condition, however the issue is that the bowel does not get irritated for no reason at all. There is some underlying cause. It is just a label that the medical society has slapped onto a group of symptoms and as always they never bother to look for the what the real problem is.

Irritable bowel can be the result of Candida yeast, but it can also be related to food allergies or sensitivities, parasites, bacteria, gluten intolerance, chemical sensitivities, imbalances in neurotransmitters and hormonal fluctuations. However when you have any of the aforementioned problems, Candida is almost always present as well. So it is my belief that yeast is usually always a factor in IBS.

Your abdominal symptoms along with the mental fog, white film on the tongue and headaches are classic Candida symptoms. The gastrointestinal symptoms could be the result of other factors, but the white tongue and mental fog are unmistakably yeast overgrowth. Additionally, antibiotics is the leading cause of yeast overgrowth and antacids contribute to it as well. Taking them for a year, would undoubtedly allow Candida to proliferate like a weed.

When one has yeast overgrowth usually the main place it thrives is in the bowel. It interferes in the colons ability to perform it’s functions adequately, and constipation and/or diarrhea as well as indigestion, bloating, pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms may occur. It burrows holes into the colon walls, so naturally this would make it irritable.

I’ve already written about Candida extensively on this website, so instead of repeating it all here, I’m going to give you a few of the basics and then guide you to those pages that have more detailed information.

Whether we’re addressing yeast overgrowth or Irritable Bowel Syndrome we want to take steps that help the bowel to function more effectively. So it’s also important to take a good digestive enzyme, drink plenty of water, eat plenty of soluble fiber and exercise.

I would also try removing gluten foods to rule out whether this is an issue or not, even if you don’t have gluten intolerance this will benefit the Candida, so either way it will be beneficial. The ALCAT test, which I give a link to further below can identify celiac disease (gluten intolerance.)

Additionally, since you have ulcers that have already presented with complications, I’d find a good alternative health doctor who could address this issue. Also, before taking anything for Candida, you’ll want to check with your alternative health doctor and make sure they will not aggravate your ulcer or interact with any medications you may be taking. The good news is that a diet that will address Candida and Irritable bowel should be beneficial to your ulcer as well, but I’d be looking into making some changes in diet and lifestyle that can benefit the ulcer situation even further.

A traditional doctor is not going to be able to advise you on any of these issues, it’s crucial that you find a competent alternative health doctor, which can be found at the American Holistic Health Association or the Academy of Environmental medicine.

In regard to the Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Candida issue I recommend you also do the following:

Since irritable bowel is often the result of undiagnosed food sensitivities or gluten intolerance, I would also recommend considering this test. You can learn more about it on the ALCAT test page.

Additionally, I have a little ebook called Candida Secrets that provides you with a comprehensive blueprint for the most important factors in addressing yeast overgrowth, that you may want to take a look at.

You should also consider getting the GI Effects stool test, it is the best tool available for identifying other organisms like parasites and bacteria that may be irritating the bowel.

hello there,bin havin this problem for a while,brown discharge,indigestion,balooning of my bowel before my periods, lots of gas and itch on my bowel and muscle pains.taken alot of antifungal n pasteries but no good.what can i do,plz advice

These types of symptoms can be the result of a variety of things. I’ ve listed them in the post above.

I would suggest that you first get a good alternative medicine doctor that you can find at the American Holistic Medical Association or Academy of Environmental Medicine just to rule out anything serious.

I would also suggest reading all the pages I suggest in the post above and addressing each of these issues.

Just taking antifungals alone is not going to eliminate the problem. It must be a comprehensive plan. There are usually multiple factors involved and each one must be addressed.

Nicotine triggers the liver to release the sugar it has stored, which puts sugar into the blood stream and Candida eats it. This also leads to numerous other health conditions like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Read this page on Nicotine and Candida where I’ve written on this topic in depth:

Irritable bowel is often caused by an overgrowth of some type of organism, it may be Candida, parasites or bacteria, and keeping the sugar level down so it doesn’t feed the organism is crucial, thus why nicotine would affect IBS as well.